Flooding control pump system



June 11, 1963 A. L. NIELSEN FLOODING CONTROL PUMP SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AX EL L. NIELSEN BY MM ATTORNEYS FIG.6.

Original Filed Sept. 16, 1957 United States Patent 3,093,154 FLOODING CONTROL PUMP SYSTEM Axel L. Nielsen, 1316 E. Elza, Hazel Park, Mich. Original application Sept. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 684,308. Divided and this application Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. 137115) The present invention relates to an improved apparatus system for flood control in buildings in the event of overloading of a municipal or other sewer system. The improvement is structurally very compact, simple, inexpensive and readily installed in or removed from a drain and clean-out riser or trap extension by an unskilled person. Yet the system, both as a whole and as to its component units, is very efficient in operation under heavy sewer back pressure to prevent unsanitary and damaging basement flooding by admission of sewer water to the sanitary or drain plumbing lines of the building in which the equipment is used.

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 684,308, filed September 16, 1957, now abandoned.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved flood control assembly featuring, firstly, a selfcontained and self-priming double pump unit. Basically, the improvement in this includes an above-floor pump adapted to be fitted to a basement riser clean-out opening of a plumbing system, in association with an improved one-way back water control plug positioned in the riser beneath the entrance of the usual storm drain line to the riser and trap. The pump is direct-driven by a motor positioned directly thereabove, having the intake side of its housing in downward communication with the housing of a further lower or pump disposed in the riser.

In further accordance with the invention, the abovefioor pump is driven by an electric motor Whose shaft is connected to the pump impeller, this shaft also extending into the lower pump housing and driving an impeller in the latter. Thus the above-floor pump is quickly filled with water by the sub-floor pump in the riser, eliminating an operational difliculty characteristic of existing generally comparable installations, which require a pump casing to keep the water captive before operation is possible.

Another object is to provide a self-priming pump, control plug and riser system or arrangement as described, in which arrangement the priming pump impeller in encased in a housing adapted to be readily and quickly inserted in a basement floor clean-out opening by means of a suitable fitting.

A still further and more specific object in one embodiment of the invention, is to provide a system as described in the preceding paragraph, in which the priming pump has a shrouded centrifugal impeller and a housing of improved double tapered design coacting with the impeller to obtain maximum rapidity of response when the unit is placed in operation. The housing serves the double function of an impeller housing and an accelerative discharge pipe to the above-floor pump.

In another embodiment, the invention contemplates the use of a screw type impeller encased in a cylindrical housing for rapid lift of water from the lower pump.

In general, the invention provides an improved flood control system comprising a rapidly self-priming unit and a valved plug unit which, as combined with and in a floor riser and positioned by the latter in predetermined relationship, respectively, above and below the point of communication with said riser of a lateral seepage or drainage conduit, the plug component automatically sealing oif the usual sewer trap from this zone of communication,

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has several important elfects. .Not only does the automatic valved plug unit of the arrangement divide the existing sewer system into what amounts to two subsystems, i.e., the foul water sanitary system below the plug unit and the storm and seepage sub-system above the plug unit; but it at the same time renders the last named subsystem automatically drainable of seepage water under normal conditions. That is, seepage water will collect above the valved plug unit and require removal by the pump unit or component, as mounted at a proper level inside the riser and connected elfectively thereto, when there is back pressure from the sanitary sub-system in the trap and at the lower part of the riser effective on the valve member of the plug unit.

Moreover, with the self-priming, dual impeller pump unit installed as described, its improved housing characteristics and relationship thereof to the riser enable the very rapid upward priming of the main, above-floor impeller housing to void water collected under the last named condition referred to in the preceding paragraph.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical axial section, partially broken away, of the pump unit of the improved system;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the pump unit, as operatively installed in relation to a subfloor riser and storm drain and sewer lines;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are like views in vertical axial section, at to one another, through the valved control plug employed in the system, showing the plug in operative, expanded and inoperative, contracted positions, respectively, the figures also showing suitable simple tools for inserting and positioning this plug unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view generally illustrating the installation of the pump and plug components of the improved system in relation to a basement floor riser component and sub-floor storm drain and sewer lines or conduits;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in axial section through an alternative form of priming device adapted to be associated with the pump unit of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are, respectively, views in horizontal section on lines 77 and 8-8 of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved selfpriming pump unit or component of the system, as installed in an upright riser or standpipe component 11 having a clean-out opening 12 disposed only slightly above a basement floor surface 16, as in a typical domes-tic installation. The usual storm drain or seepage conduit or line 14 opens to this risersomewhat above its trap 15, which discharges at 16 to the city sewer. The usual sanitary system of the domicile or other installation, from tubs, sinks, toilets and the like, as typified by the sanitary line 18 equipped with a riser 19 and clean-out opening 20 fitted with a closure plug 21, discharges to the sewer downstream of the trap.

The reference numeral 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4) generally designates the remaining component unit of the three-unit improved system, in the form of an expansible backwater control plug having novel anti-flood check valve provisions, as well as improved means for inserting, positioning and removing the unit 23, all to be described.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump unit 10 comprises a vertically elongated priming housing 24 of tapering frusto-conical cross section. The upper opening of this housing threadedly receives a nipple-like tubular connector 25 of desired length and substantially less diameter than the housing, which connector has a mounting disk or plug 26 fixed thereon above the housing 24. Disk 26 approximates in diameter and threads into the cleanout opening 12 of riser 1'1, normally occupied by the usual closure plug.

Tubular connector is thread at its upper end into an axial boss 27 of a special pump housing 28, the hub 27 surrounding the intake eye 29 to a centrifugal impeller 30 in this housing. Impeller 30 has its hub 31 fixed on an elongated driveshaft 32 extending downwardly and coaxially through the primer housing 24. The latter may be of, say, 3 /2 inch maximum diameter for installation in a four inch pipe riser, giving a housing of maximum liquid handling capacity for its intended setting. The relationship of housing and riser in point of diameter is indicated in FIG. 2, showing a relatively small radial clearance between the same.

Pump housing 28 discharges laterally above floor level 13 at 34, where it may be return-connected to the sanitary line riser 19, or it may be connected to discharge to the exterior of the dwelling or other building in question.

A centrifugal priming impeller 35 featuring a top shroud disk or plate 35' is secured to the shaft 32 adjacent the lower end thereof, within a downwardly tapered conical bottom portion 36 of primer housing 24. To this end of the shaft may be appropriately journaled in a fixed intake trap 37 secured beneath housing 24, through which liquid enters to the blading of impeller 35 from the storm drain line 14.

The upward divergence of the tapered lower housing portion 36 and the top shrouding of impeller 35 at 35' considerably assist the latter in obtaining a rapid initial lift of water, which is then further speeded to housing 28 by the upward convergence of the housing 24 above impeller 35.

It is the function of the impeller 35 to positively and rapidly prime the above-floor pump housing 28 through tubular connector 25, whenever any water collects in the riser, whether storm drainage from line 14 or by unlikely back-seepage past the valved plug unit 23 to be described. In this the tapered priming pump housing 24 serves the combined functions of an impeller housing and, as associated with the restricted diameter connector tube 25, an accelerative discharge pipe to the pump 28 during the initial priming phase of pump operation. Of course, after the priming phase the housings 24, 28 and connector 25 are normally filled with water and acceleration is zero.

A suitable axially acting, spring urged rotary seal is interposed between the upper end of the discharge impeller hub 31 and a hollow top extension 40 of centrifugal pump housing 28, the seal preferably including a carbon seal disk 41 to contain upward flow at this point.

Drive shaft 32 is appropriately journaled by a ball bearing 42 in a cylindrical mounting block 43 upwardly of pump housing 28, and the upper end of shaft 32 is connected by an appropriate coupling 44 with the depending shaft 45 of an electric drive motor 46, suitably wired in a conventional way. Motor 46 may be automatically controlled by a sump pump type of control unit such as is illustrated and described in FIG. 7 of my Patent No. 2,834,845 of May 13, 1958.

The shaft sealing, bearing and coupling provisions just described are encased in a tubular motor mounting and sheath 47, which is secured by a clamp 49 about a motor boss 48 at its top and is also secured about the axial housing extension 40 at its bottom.

An alternative form of priming structure is illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing. This includes an axially disposed screw type impeller 51, the continuous helical land 52 of which is connected to the motor drive shaft 32. A cylindrical priming housing 53 encases impeller 51, which acts to lift water rapidly from the lower pump to the main or above-floor pump housing 28, as in the first embodiment. Corresponding parts in the two embodiments are correspondingly numbered.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 2, the one-way control plug or sealing unit 23 is comprised of a pair of centrally apertured, lower and upper metal disks 56, 57, respectively, the lower disk 56 surrounding and being rigidly secured, as by threading or Welding at 58, to an upright tubular valve housing 59. The upper disk 57 is slidably engaged over an upper threaded extremity 68 of the tubular member 59; and an annular, axially compressible sealing ring 61 of rubber, synthetic rubber, or like resiliently deformable material occupies the space between the disks 56, 57.

Accordingly, it is seen that, with the unit 23 first located beneath the level of the storm drain line 14, the exertion of downward axial force on the upper disk 57 causes ring 61 to be radially expanded from its normal inoperative, contracted position of FIG. 4 to its operative expanded, sealing position of FIG. 3. In this condition it seals peripherally against the wall of the riser 11 to prevent back flooding or seepage from the sewer past the periphery of unit 23.

For the purpose of initially disposing the plug unit 23 in this position, the tubular housing 59 is equipped with a fixed internal cross pin 63, manually engageable by an elongated inserting and removing tool or rod 64 (FIG. 4). This tool is equipped with a hole adapted to receive a hand piece 65 at its top and is appropriately devised at its lower end to enable the unit 23 to be both lifted and lowered in the pipe 11, having a downwardly opening bayonet type slot 65 at its bottom to positively engage pin 63 both from above and below, thus to lift and lower plug 23, as well as prevent rotation of the latter, as will be described.

For the purpose of exerting axial force on disk 57 to expand the resilient plug sleeve 61, a hex-headed collar 67 is mounted in threaded engagement with the upper extremity 60 of tubular valve housing 59. The hexagonal nut head 68 of collar 67 is adapted to be non-rotatively engaged by the second, expanding and contracting tool 69, which is of open-ended tubular nature.

Tool 69 has an internal diameter enabling it to be slipped axially over the rod-like tool 64, being sufficiently shorter than the latter to enable the hand piece 65 to be applied above tool 64 when all parts are properly engaged. The lower end of tubular tool 69 is considerably enlarged to provide a nut head 70 which has a hexagonal internal cross section at 71 to fit over the hex head 68 of collar 67.

Thus with the tool 64 engaged with pin 63 to suspend plug 23 and prevent its rotation, and with the hexagonal interior 71 of tool 69 engaged on collar nut head 68, the latter tool may be manually rotated to exert the desired axial thrust on disk 57, and thus expand the resilient member 61 to sealing engagement with riser 11.

The tubular housing 59 has a bottom mouth extremity 74 which is curved and disposed to face in the direction of the city sewer line, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and an anti-backflow flap or check valve 75 is pivoted on an upper horizontal axis 76 at the open mouth of this extremity. Thus reverse flow from the sewer line upon its overloading and flooding is prevented, yet normal proper flow through the valve housing 59 in the direction of the sewer is unimpeded at all times.

The improvement provides a flood control system of great compactness, including in combination with the riser an entirely self-contained, self-priming pump unit 10 and an anti-backfiow, valved sealing unit 23 to prevent fiooding from the sewer. Both units are rapidly and easily mounted in their operative position by entirely unskilled people, and their simplicity enables them to be marketed at a minimum price.

As thus installed, the riser 11 physically mounts the self-priming impeller unit 10 and automatically draining valved plug unit 23 in proper functioning relationship to one another, to the zone of communication of the seepage or drainage conduit 14 with the riser, and to the sewer 16 and trap 15, for conjoint action. In this, the plug unit 23 enables a normal drainage of seepage or storm water from conduit 14 into the trap :15 and sewer conduit 16 when there is no back pressure in the latter adequate to keep the flap or check valve 75 closed. However, when such flooding condition arises, the plug unit 23 effectively seals oil trap and sewer from the riser 11, actually dividing oil the sewage line from the remainder of the system or arrangement, with the impeller housing 24 designed and positioned in a way to immediately carry off collected seepage water to the main impeller housing 28 whence it may be voided to the exterior, or back to the sewage on the downstream side of trap 15. The priming housing provisions are designed for a large capacity i'low upon energization of the motor, with an accelerated upward flow until the housing means comprising the priming impeller housing 24, the connecting pipe 25 and main impeller housing 28 are filled.

As is evident from FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the flap or check valve 75, though normally closing the mouth or extremity 74 of tubular housing 59, by gravity, will open to permit the outflow to trap 15 under even a small head of water in the housing.

What I claim as my invention is:

A flood control system comprising the combination of an upright tubular riser opening upwardly at a predetermined level, said riser having a drain conduit in lateral communication therewith and adapted to discharge thereto a predetermined distance beneath said level, and a disposal conduit in communication therewith a still greater distance beneath said level, a pump unit, and a plug unit separate from said pump unit having means to removably and adjustably position the same independently of the pump unit in said riser between said conduits and below said drain conduit in a vertical zone determined by the point of communication of said drain conduit with said riser, said plug unit having means to expansively engage the same with said riser to seal the latter against backfiow externally of the plug unit from said disposal conduit to the riser, said plug unit having a passage therethrough provided with a valve automatically permitting normal flow of liquid from said riser and drain conduit through the passage to said disposal conduit, said valve automatically closing said passage to prevent backflow from said disposal conduit to said riser, said pump uni-t having means to secure the same to said riser with the intake side of said pump unit in the riser and in pumping communication with the interior of said riser above said plug unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,981,991 Cline Nov. 27, 1934 2,347,544 De Costa Apr. 25, 1944 2,757,752 Kaufman Aug. 7, 1950 2,865,296 Bungartz Dec. 23, 1958 2,892,467 Weisman June 30, 1959 

